Sheet-metal-doubling machine.



J. GRAHAM.

SHEET METAL DOUBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 191?.

Mtente Jan. l, MIS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET f fu Ew 5 I .L S W n HEIM-...Ivan

J. GRAHAM.

SHEET METAL DOUBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 19H.

l Bu@ Patented Jan. MES.,

3 SHEETS-swim.

, G. GRHV?.

SHEET METAL DOUBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEsIz. I9I7.

@mem/e@ Sian. L MIS.

i, UNITED srArEs JOHN G. 0F GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-METAL-DOUBLING MACHINE.

`Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application led February 28, 1917. Serial No. 151,479.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GLYGRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at VGrranite City, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Metal-Doubling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for doubling sheet-metal, and has for its object to provide a machine by which sheet-metal is readily yand quickly doubled automatically for producinga pack of two or more sheets.

It consists in features of novelty as hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing forming part'of this specification, whereon,

Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section through my improved sheet-metal doubling` machine, omitting ,parts of the driving gear; Fig. 2, a top plan ofthe same; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section through the foundation ofthe machine, omitting the licorplate, and showing the machine in front end elevation; Fig. 4, a similar view to Fig. 1, brokenaway, with the folding parts of the machine in different positions respectively; Fig. 5, a horizontal section throughl the shank and guides of the presser-plate and its appendages forming parts of my invention, on line 5, 5, in Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 6, a vertical cross sectionvthrough a number of the folding'parts of themachine, on line 6, 6,7in Fig. 2; Fig. 7, an end view of the same; Fig. 8, a top plan` of the driving gear of the machine detached from the general views, A-and Fig. 9, a vertical section through the same taken longitudinally with the machineon line 9,9, in Fig. 8.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

a represents a preferably, metal Hoor-plate onv which the metalsheet 1 (represented by the heavy black line in Figs. 1 and 3) to be doubled is laid. Beneath the floor-plate a isa bed 2 on-which is ixed a block b having a channel or guideway 3 in central alinement, or thereabout, longitudinally with the metal sheet 1, and in which is adapted to slide forward and rearward, a rectangularshaped bar c having across its upper face a series of teeth 4; which are adapted to be en aged by preferably a toothed'spur wheel d ed above the bar c (hereinafter termed rack). on a transversely. arranged shaft; e,

which is mounted in suitable bearings 5 secured to the foundation of the machine beneath the shaft e. From the rear end portion of, and in the plane of the rack c extends an upwardly, and preferably, rearwardly inclined member c which is formed at its upper end with a rearwardly projecting L-shaped offset c2 having its vertical leg 6 projecting upward through the floorplate a: and bearing at its front side against the rear end edge of the metal sheet 1 when the latter is in its initial position on the floor-plate a as seen particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. On the shaft e at a suitable and equal distance from each side of the longitudinal center of the rack c and clear of the longitudinal edges of the metal sheet 1, is fulcrumed and fixed one end of anV arm or lever f which is inclined upward andv forward from the shaft c toward the floorplate a where'it is fixed, preferably at its outer free end, to the corresponding end of a spindle 7, and on the spindle 7 in proximity and parallel thereto, is hinged by lugs 8 projecting therefrom, a fiat rectangularshapedbar g which extends lengthwise between, and at right angles to the arms f, and is free to move radially about its pivot or'hinge 7, the bar g by which the metal sheet 1 isfolded as lhereinafter described, being adapted to pass freely through a corresponding opening 9 therefor in the floor'- plate a across which opening the front end portion of the metal sheet 1 extends, the upper face of the bar g bearing thereat against the underside of the metal sheet l when the latter is in its initial position on the floor-plate a as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

Longitudinally through the floor-plate a immediately over, and having its longitudinal edges clear of the corresponding sidesv of each arm f, is kan opening 9 which extends rearward from the front opening 9 to a distance equal, or thereabout, to the travel ofthe arms f when swung by the shaft e from the initialpositionvof the barl g shown by full lines in Fig. 1, to its final position shown by dotted linesk in Fig. 1, and by full lines in Fig. 4f, and as hereinafter more particularly rreferred to, the. openings 9 communicating at their rear ends with an opening 92 formed transversely through the Hoor-plate a, and communicating with a central longitudinal opening 93 formed through the floor-plate a clearV of the sidesof the oset'c2 of the rac-kc' and extending rearward for a suitable distance from the opening 92 for allowing free movement of the olfset c2 te and fro according to* the varying lengths of the metal sheetspto,

be doubled.

.By the arrangement of the openings 9, 9, f

92, jfand' 93',l thus described Ait will' be ynoted that, the consequently detached interveningH portion of the floor-plate a is secured to the surrounding v portion lof the latter in front,; by a U-shaped ltacket 10;(see particularly Fig.v la)A whichstraddles the barl g beneathv the floor-plate a and :is lixcdby one leg. to `theffront end lof the-detachedfpor# tion and by its other leg to the adjacent suri rounding portion of the ifloor-platea,-` and similarly, at the lrear end. of the Vdetached Ato;

portion by .U-shaped brackets 1G `which bridge theopening 92 at each side, and clear the lopening-.93, .whereby the intervening portion of the floor-plate a is firmly supported and held at thenormallleveliof the floor. i it represents a shaftwhich is` preferably in valinement with, butseparate from'the shafteg and ismounted inl suitable bearings 11 secured beneathtothe foundation.- On

Y the shaft h, which is ypreferably linthe present ca'se',li,\ed Vin the bearings l1, is mounted loosely aspur vwheel which is adapted to engage `with Y a. verticallyI arranged toothed' raclnl2 -formedon Vor fixedr to one side of the *upright shank` 13I :off a `horizontal redl tangularvshaped plate' 'fla -which *projects longitudinallyl for a suitable distance fromv the upp'erend'of the-shanl'l above, and across the floor-platea and the metal sheet l thereon, 'and carries the presser-plate aby which the' folded' portion of themetal 'sheet' 1v is `pressed downward lupon 'the straight under portion thereof as' hereinafter particularly referred to, the combined, shank 13V and plate4 lll'forminglan invertedr L-shaped member: i 'i The kpresser-plate formed along its longitudinal Vedges with up.- wardly projecting` flanges 15 which are slidably in contact with the corresponding edges .of the plated-aand flanged inwardly at the top so as to overlap the latter, a'suitable space 16 beingv left between the plate -lf and thesupperi sideof the lpresser'lplateA 7c,

andin the space 16 are placed transversely Ta seriesrof springs Y( preferably liXed-'to thel plate 14 ka-nd bea-ring at their free 'end'sfon the `presser-plate: Q, whereby they' presser- Vplate c- 'is J.vertically yieldable and resilient when: lowered: upon the folded portionl of the metal sheetjl; 1- i -For operating'the machine various ar-- rangements ofvmechanism driven by asingle` Y motoror otherwise may-be used, the driving gear forthis purpose in thev present'case consistingfof a countershaftV Z arranged parallel-'to -the'shaftsfe and h Vand rotatably 7c 'inzthepresentcase is vmoui'ited `Suitable bearings l0n the y shaft Z is mounted loosely a spur pinion (Z which is adapted to engage the spur wheel vcZon the shafte, and" a spurpinion z" adapted to engage thespur wheel z' on the shaft h, and on the4V shaft Z is feathered a suitable clutch,y such as a friction clutch which,` is

adaptedvt'o engage the pinion cZ, andasiinii larclutch-a adapted'to engage the pinion z", the clutches m and n being controlledxby a suitable system of levers, such as the; levers m, n', which are connected tov each otherby a. link ogand the latter'fto a leVerf19-'liaving its outerfree 4end"adapted for "engagement by a spur pinion V2O which is'fiXedtoan'upright spindle 21 projecting 'through the loo'r plate-1a and provid'edabove the'latterlwi'tli a handle22 within reach of theope'rator p represents va motor (Figsx2 'and8)hav ing its shaft 23 atrighft angl'e'stothecounter shaftZ, and on the motor shaf't'23 arefloo'sely mounted two opposite bevel wheels'j2t, 24",; i

which are adapted to engage with? fb'evel wheel 25 *fixed 1 on: Vthel `adj acent end of the 0n the motor"` .shaft 28' ybetween the bevel" for' this' purpose', anjj'ordinarypulleyy kbandbra-ke may `be used.'

In operation, :assuming the metal sheetl lto be placed 1on1 the 'floor-plate in its initial position kasv shownby the 'heavy black linefin' Figs. land 3, -and byfordinary full lines Aijn F ig. 2, and that the 'motor' shaft 23' is 'rota-ted:

in'the direction of 'a'r'ow 2S (F 8') with" the clutch 26 thrown' into engagement withl the bevel wheel 24, L'the bevel wheel 1252;and"

withlt the counter-shaft Z will befrotated' in the direction of arrow29, 'whenftheclu'tch" fm; being thrown intoi engagementfwithf the pinion-CZ by moving theoperatinghandle 22f ris fromits-mid position as shown-in 8'v into,

the vdfotte'd-A position" l the ,spur wheelY CZ and its shaft el-willfbe rotated'inlthe4 direction` will raise* and 'swingthe dou'bling bar -g from'its initial position seenf-in jF ig.-'' 1l 'askin-'v cheated-by arrow81",".orisoas'to raise the metal sheet ll -at 4rits', front end; fsiniulta'ne# ously, the-rack c with its olfset cgfengaging' the metal sheet la at its T'rear end lilsmoved forward bythe vspurwheelffcZ in'the direc# tionl` of arrow 32,1andf` inso" Adoing causes the reo lLearner() metal sheet 1l to be moved forward along of the doubling-:bar g andrack c from their initial positions shown byfull lines in Fig. l'to their final positions indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1 and by full lines in Fig. 4, thereby: causing the metal sheet 1 to be folded over on itself into the position and shape indicated bydotted'lines in Fig. 1.

By then moving'the handle 22 ofthe driv-v ing gear into the,A mid position,k ,as shown by full linesin Fig. 8,'the clutch m'will be disengaged from the pinion d and the motor p, being then stopped, the clutch 26 is disengaged from the bevel wheel 24 and thrown into engagement with the bevel wheel 24, the clutch n at the same time being thrown into engagement with the pinion a" by moving the handle 22 into the dotted position 1/ and the locking clutch 27 released from the spur wheel z', when the motor p being restarted, the bevel wheel 25, and with it the counter-shaft Z and pinion z" will be rotated in the direction of arrow 33 (Fig. 8)v or so as to lower the members 13, 14 and with it the presser-plate 7c from its position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 3 on to the metal sheet l until the folded portion of the latter is flattened and pressed downward upon the underlying portion thereof as shown in Fig. 4, thereby doubling the sheet or producing a pack for re-rolling, and in this connection it is to be noted that, by means ofthe springs 17 before described, the impact of the presser-plate c upon the metal sheet l is cushioned.

The motor p being then again stopped, the clutch 26 is disengaged from the bevel wheel 24 and rengaged with the bevel wheel 24 which on re-starting the motor causes the spur wheel z' to be rotated in the opposite direction from arrow 33, or so as to raise the presser-plate from the metal sheet l into its original position. The motor p is then again stopped and the spur wheel z' locked by the clutch 27, when by disengaging the clutch a from the pinion c" and re'e'ngaging the clutch m with the pinion el the spur wheel l on re-starting the motor p, will be rotated in the opposite direction to arrow 80, or so as to return the doubling bar g and rack c to their original position, when the doubled sheet 1 is removed.

In the meantime however, previous to restarting the motor 79 and returning the parts vas last mentioned, the shearing blade s (see Figs. 1, 3, and 4) carried by the vertically arranged toothed racks 34 which are voperated by the toothed pinions 35 fixed on a shaft 36 mounted in bearings 37 at the sides of the standard 38, is lowered 'and passing between the vertical leg 6 of the offset 02 and the reinforced forward edge of the opening 92 shears or trims the irregular rear end edges 39 of the doubled sheet l, the

shearing mechanism referred to being of the lordinary welliknown construction and therefore needing no further.description.

In a sheet-metal doubling machine, the combinationvof a floor adaptedito support the saidA sheet', a rotatable shaft arranged beneath the floor transversely to the sheet, ato'othed wheel fixed fon the shaft, a toothed rack adapted to be engaged by the said wheel and having a suitable member adapted to vbear-against the rear end ofthe sheet, an

arin fixed at one end to the shaft and adapted at its other end to bear against the underside of the sheet, means for rotating the shaft, and means for pressing and flattening the folded portion of the sheet on to the underlying portion thereof.

2. In a sheet-metal doubling machine, the combination of a fioor adapted to lsupport the said sheet, a rotatable shaft arranged beneath the floor transversely to the sheet, a toothed wheel fixed on the shaft, a toothed rack adapted to be engaged by the said wheel and slidable longitudinally in a plane parallel to the floor, the said rack having a suitable member adapted to bear against the rear end of the sheet, an arm fixed at one end to the shaft at each side of the said wheel, a bar hinged to, and extending between the said arms at a suitable distance forward from the shaft, the said bar bearing thereat against the underside of the sheet, means for rotating the shaft, and means for pressing and flattening the folded portion of the sheet on to the underlying portion thereof.

3. In a sheet-metal doubling machine, the combination of a floor adapted to support the said sheet, a rotatable shaft arranged beneath the floor transversely to the sheet, a toothed wheel fixed on the shaft, a toothed rack adapted to be engaged by the said wheel and slidable longitudinally in a plane pa-rallelto the Hoor, the said rack having a suitable member adapted to bear against the rear end of theI sheet, an arm iixed at one end to the shaft at each side of the said wheel, a bar hinged to, and extending between the said arms at a suitable distance forward from theshaft, the said bar bearing thereat against the underside of the sheet, means for rotating the shaft, a presser-plate, and'means for lowering and raising the said plate on to and from the folded portion of the sheet respectively.

4. In a sheet-metal doubling machine, the combination of a floor adapted to support the said sheet, a rotatable shaft arranged beneath the floor transversely to the sheet, a toothed wheel fixed on the shaft, a toothed rack adapted to be engaged by the said wheel and slidable longitudinally in a plane parallel to the floor, the said rack having a suitable member adapted to bear against the rear end of the sheet, an arm fixed at one slvlaf't',l a preslerfplte, a mmbr adziptd to 'czll'lrry and to lower and raise th' Said plato on'4 to and from the folded portion Vof the 

